Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

bon mot

American  
[bon moh, bawn moh] / ˈbɒn ˈmoʊ, bɔ̃ ˈmoʊ /

noun

bons mots plural
  1. a witty remark or comment; clever saying; witticism.


bon mot British  
/ bɔ̃ mo /

noun

  1. a clever and fitting remark

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of bon mot

1725–35; < French: literally, good word; see boon 2, motto

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The character never has to search long for a bon mot.

From Los Angeles Times Apr. 24, 2023

Then, of course, there’s the song’s instantly memed, irresistibly quotable bon mot, “Sometimes I feel like everybody is a sexy baby, and I’m a monster on the hill.”

From New York Times Oct. 24, 2022

Economists would point to the folly of a course of action, and he would pull out a bon mot or caricature them as “the doubters, the doomsters, the gloomsters.”

From Washington Post Jul. 8, 2022

The bizarre situation elicits Patroclus' zesty bon mot: "What a spring the man has! Nice dive! Think of the oysters he could come up with if he were out at sea …"

From Salon Nov. 27, 2021

“Add the occasional bon mot and I’m in.”

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training